Skillit steps out of his comfort zone and aces it, S.chu lacing him with a sound as fit for a grubby squat rave as it is any rapper. And with a video slicker than 90% of what you'll find on the box, it's a wrap.

Telemachus takes a trip to the coast, flower in-hand. If previousleaks and the smokey production found in this trailer are anything to go by, In The Evening should be one of this year's worthiest releases.

Jay-Z has been busying himself curating the soundtrack for The Great Gatsby feature film, tapping The xx for this soaring contribution which builds on their tried-and-tested mood music with a cinematographic orchestral coda to finish off proceedings.

Rumours that Mr Carter earmarked Coldplay for the full OST are unconfirmed...

Mobb Deep, Lloyd Banks, Jadakiss, Curren$y, Tony Yayo, Styles P - Beat Butcha's work stateside over the past couple of years is not to be sniffed at. Now the heatmaker has unleashed a batch of his more recent creations sans vocals.

YNR are giving up this freebie from soundscapist Telemachus, who later this year will present In The Evening, a producer album that sees Mr Thing, Jehst, Roc Marciano, El Crisis and more along for the ride.

Before the Beeb cornered the urban music market, Itch FM ruled the airwaves, catering to hip hop heads across the capital. Since shutting up shop seven years later, Itch has made a welcome return online. Now the team is crowdsourcing to raise funds for equipment that will allow it to broadcast once again - this time via the internet.

To see how you can get involved in supporting the effort - in return for goodies, a mention in an upcoming documentary and even a vist to the HQ - head over here.

Having already signed Rodney P, Tru Thoughts has decided to revisit one of the country's bona fide classics - Gangster Chronicles by London Posse. Thirteen years on from its original release, on 13 May you can get your hands on this one-off deluxe edition, including remixes and unreleased material.

Pretty much anyone rapping in an English accent today has this album to thank.

Take the breaks that make up New York rap's DNA, splice them with UK grime's fierce, shrill vocals and you have the latest project from producers 184 and The Purist. Genius. Listen and download at will.

Although hardly known for its refinement, grime's abrasive aesthetics couldn't have been better curated or represented in this instrumental collection from Big Dada. And the genre's ascent, implosion and new beginnings couldn't be better summed up than by the record label's blurb for the release.

Everyone from Preditah, Footsie and Wiley are represented here and not a single MC in sight. May 6 sees the release.